Open AccessEvidence‐based evaluation of intravenous immunoglobulin utilization in paediatric patients in Qatar
Author(s) -
El Ajez Reem Hasan,
Mohamed Asmaa Ezzeldin,
Gaber Ali Hossamaldein
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pharmaceutical health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.244
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1759-8893
pISSN - 1759-8885
DOI - 10.1111/jphs.12285
Subject(s) - medicine , medical prescription , pediatrics , retrospective cohort study , intravenous immunoglobulins , off label use , food and drug administration , emergency medicine , antibody , medical emergency , immunology , pharmacology
Objective To evaluate the current practice/utilization of intravenous immunoglobulin ( IVIG ) in paediatric patients and to determine the level of evidences supporting IVIG use in such patients. Method A retrospective, evidence‐based evaluation of IVIG use in paediatric patients. It consists of (1) retrospective chart review of paediatric patients received IVIG at Hamad General Hospital ( HGH ) in Qatar during year of 2014, (2) evidence‐based evaluation of indications for which IVIG had been prescribed using the levelling and grading system of Oxford Center of Evidence‐Based Medicine. Results A total of 348 IVIG prescriptions had been written for paediatric patients during the study period. The amount of IVIG consumed was 5.5 kg with an estimated cost of $0.27 million (~QR 1 million). IVIG was prescribed for 16 distinct diagnoses. Prescriptions for Food and Drug Administration ( FDA )‐labelled indications were count for 77.3% (269/348) of total prescriptions. For the non‐ FDA indications, the most common prescribing specialties were neurology (35.4%, 28/79), cardiothoracic/cardiology (16.5%, 13/79) and rheumatology (16.5%, 13/79). The majority of non‐ FDA ‐approved indications were supported by evidences with different grades, mainly grade C (60.8%, 48/79). Conclusion A significant amount of IVIG was prescribed for approved indications. Strategies to optimize IVIG utilization should be initiated to minimize inappropriate use of IVIG for low‐evidence indications.